Effect of interregional migration on geographic variability in biological and social traits in Great Britain

Over 19% of individuals born in England, Scotland, and Wales during March 3-9, 1958, resided in 1981 in a region different from the region of their birth. This internal migration among the 11 regions increased geographic homogeneity for one genetic variable (ABO blood group). Cramer's V for mother's A, O, and B or AB blood group decreased from 0.0504 to 0.0476. Mother's Rh+/- blood group was not significantly different among regions of place of birth or subsequent place of residence of the offspring. Variability among the regions increased by migration from region of birth to region of residence 23 years later for the social class of male head of household (Cramer's V increased from 0.0815 to 0.0877) and for years of schooling completed (V increased from 0.107 to 0.129). Stature behaved more like the social variables (mean square deviation among regions increased from 371 cm2 to 481 cm2 in females and from 426 cm2 to 471 cm2 in males), but body weight tended to become more uniform among regions (mean square deviation decreased from 220 kg2 to 178 kg2 in females and from 315 kg2 to 260 kg2 in males).